Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Deputy's agreement that it is important that we have a conversation on future ownership and governance of the health service. It would be both very important and timely. In fact, it is overdue. Let us remember and recall how we arrived at this point in the case of the National Maternity Hospital.

Following extensive mediation discussions, agreement was reached late last year between the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group, a very important teaching acute adult hospital, and the National Maternity Hospital on the relocation of the maternity hospital to the Elm Park campus. The terms of the agreement which have been published in full provide for the establishment of a new company, The National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC, limited by shares. The new company will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary, independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services. This independence will be assured by the reserved powers which are set out in the agreement and copperfastened by the golden share which will be held by the Minister for Health of the day. The reserved powers can only be amended with the unanimous written approval of the directors and the approval of the Minister for Health. This is a greater level of input than the Minister for Health has today in some maternity hospitals. The agreement ensures a full range of health services will be available at the new National Maternity Hospital without religious, ethnic or other distinction. In that regard, I welcome the further confirmation by the board of the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group that any medical procedure which is in accordance with the laws of the land will be carried out at the new hospital.

Now that the planning application for the development has been submitted, we must turn our focus to the legal mechanisms necessary to complete the project. The hospital will be publicly funded, built on lands in the ownership of St.Vincent’s University Hospital and operated by the new company. In the next few weeks I intend to meet representatives of both hospitals and will further consider the legal mechanisms necessary to absolutely protect the State's considerable investment in the hospital, including the ownership of the new facility. I have indicated that, prior to the HSE entering into any construction contract, I will formally sanction the necessary arrangements to ensure the facilities will be legally secured on an ongoing basis for the delivery of publicly funded maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services. Over the years we have made a significant capital investment in voluntary hospitals and such facilities have always continued to be used for the delivery of publicly funded health care as intended, including Holles Street hospital.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

I intend to report to the Government on the project at the end of May. At that stage I expect to have further details of the legal and other arrangements envisaged and will make this information available publicly. This will allow for the necessary clarity well in advance of contractual or other commitments being entered into in respect of the project.

I reaffirm my commitment to this hugely important project. The facilities at Holles Street are no longer fit for purpose. It is also acknowledged that for optimal clinical outcomes, maternity services should be co-located with adult acute services. We need to move on with the project and provide women and infants with modern health care facilities. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver the new state-of-the-art facility.

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